“At Sage Vegan Bistro, we are proud to say that we truly are all things to all people. A comfortable neighborhood restaurant for the residents of Echo Park, a safe place with lots of options for people with food allergies, a cruelty-free plant based restaurant that meat eaters AND vegans and vegetarians adore - a place to be decadently healthy and feel good doing it. We work with several organic farms including Tutti Frutti and South Central that supply us with local, in season produce. The farm to table model is part of our commitment always is to provide you with the highest quality, most delicious food available that is both good for your body and for the environment.

At Sage Vegan Bistro, everyone wins! KindKreme is hand crafted in small batches using organic, local, and sustainable ingredients. Our commitment to the environment extends beyond our products into our packaging, our energy consumption, our waste management, and our company culture. Our icekreme emerged from a vision of our founder Mollie, who was born and raised vegan. She wanted to create desserts that all children could enjoy with their friends and family. The result is a delicious healthy alternative that people of all ages and diets can indulge in. We hope that you delight in our icekreme, and that it leaves you inspired about the benefits of plant-based foods!”

Sage and KindKreme were founded by Mollie Engelhart, a producer and writer.

My Recommendations

1. Sage gets busy at night and weekends. Go for lunch or before you are starving and get in line on their chalkboard.

2. Parking: There is a pay lot on Logan right next to the restaurant. At a busy time you can search for parking, and search and search. Or valet park west on Sunset, past Alvarado a few blocks and walk from Mohawk Bend.

3. The two cheesecakes I tasted were good, although too heavy for me to eat a whole piece. Go for the icekreme instead. After your meal you can go over to their icekreme counter, sample a few, and then make your selection to take back to your table. I chose the blood orange with pomegranate seeds. The icekreme is by KindKreme, sharing space with Sage.

4. The beet crispy tacos are a must (don’t wear white and careful with getting your fingers stained) with Mexican rice and black beans. The rice and bean combination is flavorful.

5. Quinoa Corn Cakes served with avocado and spicy "cream cheese" dressing. These quinoa cakes are served with avocado slices, kale, and pickled cabbage that added a zingy flavor.

6. The almond cheese pierogi and potatobroccoli pierogi were another great item to share. In fact, when I ate at Sage we shared all the above mentioned dishes.

7. The best seating is along the window or upstairs. The seating next to the dessert counter is too distracting with people coming and going.

You can visit Sage online at sageveganbistro.com and KindKreme at kindkreme.com

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Shiny objects go well on the finger, in the driveway, and now on your plate. These cupcakes are a delicious marriage of vanilla cake, vanilla frosting, and edible silver. Enjoy at your next event, party, or all by yourself at 1:00 A.M.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Shiny objects go well on the finger, in the driveway, and now on your plate. These cupcakes are a delicious marriage of chocolate cake, ganache, black sugar sprinkles, and edible silver. Enjoy at your next event, party, or all by yourself at 1:00 A.M.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

A delicious chocolate cupcake with vanilla frosting and chocolate drizzle, topped with a vanilla cake pop rolled in toasted coconut. These cupcakes manage to be rich and decadent, yet light in texture. Named in honor of Brazil’s Coconut Coast, these cupcakes celebrate the beautiful bay, astonishing nature, and coconut capital.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Named in honor of Naples, Italy these cosmopolitan cupcakes are layered with devil’s food, chocolate, vanilla, pink frosting, and finished with ruby pearlized sugar. A very agreeable mixture celebrating the Italian immigrants who brought their cuisine to the Americas during the 19th century. An audience pleaser for parties and events. Or share on date night with a bottle of your favorite red wine.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Our own bad habits, mental and physical health conditions, and images we see in media have an impact on our consistency. When we see actors, athletes, and models in media they often are presented looking their best. Or shall we say computer graphics best. Digital retouchers use computer technology in photos and video to alter photos into a “perfect” image. It is healthiest to keep this in mind at all times and maintain a good standard of what is best.

We all have goals related to physical health and wellness. Among these could be to improve body image, avoid following unhealthy eating behaviors, making healthy food choices, and being physically active every day.

Starting each day with a healthy perspective enables us to face challenges and be sure in the choices we make when we are eating alone, with friends, coworkers, or family. Over time this mental lifting of weights, making good steps, will go a long way in your ability to have a fit body. Including friends and family that share your interest in working out is beneficial, as the synergy you create will keep each other in various activities and keep you encouraged to exercise.

Take a moment to reflect upon your values, the ideas you hold close, that will be the center of what gets you physically fit.

Then think, write, or type out a plan. Set out the small acts.

Additionally, evaluate your actions. Mark your calendar every week, two weeks, or a month to check in with yourself on a perpetual basis. This time is for revising, editing, and adjusting your actions and perspective. You may even find yourself setting more goals. Physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are related and will influence your choices and consistency.

Do what activities you enjoy and make them as enjoyable as possible. Do not fool yourself or allow others to fool you. Life is challenging, especially life when working out. Look online for free videos to watch and follow along with those. Music can be a great way to distract you from the boredom or difficulty of working out. Make a list of rewards that will incentivize you, this could be going to your favorite place, making your favorite meal, or simply putting a star on a chart showing off your accomplishment.

School, bible study, brushing your teeth and a whole lot more are not things we always want to do. We must do them though, as we know they are important to our life and well being. If you do not exercise, if you sabotage your diet with soda, lots of processed foods, drugs, alcohol, and emotionally bad habits, then do not complain you are not at a healthy weight or able to do certain physical activities. Find a way. Take your dog for a walk, take a ball, have fun with your canine companion. This is one way to get started. Consult a doctor too, especially if you have health conditions. You have spent the time reading this article as a reminder to yourself, that is another good sign. Keep that momentum going.

What did you learn? Please share your thoughts and tips for better fitness.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Yes! Read the excerpt below from an article in the National Education Association Magazine.

While complaining about a circumstance you knowingly entered is vexatious, and every profession has its challenges, there is something in the article and its cartoons that is fresh. Most people are appreciative and kind to their teachers and teachers of their children. Yet, for some that got detention or an F when they were in school their citizen right to free speech and vote is an opportunity for revenge.

"The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines scapegoat as one that bears the blame for others, or one that is the object of irrational hostility. Those of us in the education profession would define scapegoat this way: teacher.

Scapegoating teachers has become so popular with policymakers and politicians, the media, and even members of the public that it has blurred the reality of what’s really happening in education. What’s more, it’s eroding a noble profession and wreaking havoc on student learning, says Kevin Kumashiro, author of Bad Teacher!: How Blaming Teachers Distorts the Bigger Picture.

In his book, Kumashiro...professor of Asian American Studies and Education at the University of Illinois at Chicago, explains how scapegoating public-school teachers, teacher unions, and teacher education masks the real, systemic problems in education. He also demonstrates how trends like market-based reforms and fast-track teacher certification programs create obstacles to an equitable education for all children."--Cindy Long

See the full article at neatoday.org/2013/12/06/crazy-things-people-say-to-teachers-and-how-to-respond/.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

I recently got to test drive a BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke or Bavarian Motor Works) 328i sedan. This design is engaging, sophisticated, and has a dynamic forward thrust. Often consumers think a BMW is out of their price range, and maybe it is for them. A little comparison shopping and you will probably find yourself nicely surprised. You might find that you can get the BMW rather than other automobiles.

Pros

- handling

- engine power

- good fuel-efficiency

- higher end interior

- a menu of options and styles

- safety

- comfort

- fun to drive

- the cup holder is in between the front passengers, a nice change from the dashboard cup holders of the previous model

Cons

- the 3 Series may not suit a large family

- the turn signal is not as responsive as I like

- the dashboard control display (radio, sound system, navigation, and navigation screen) is not seamlessly built into the dashboard

* Eco Pro Mode: This select-in option may be a pro or con. BMW claims a more efficiency with this technology, with optimized pedal and gear recognition and optimization of heating and air-conditioning. This reduces the amount of total energy used by the car. The car in this mode automatically goes to “Ready” when stopped at signals or waiting in traffic congestion. “Ready” mode feels as if the car is off; however, upon accelerating or moving the steering wheel it will kick back “on”. The transition is a bit jerky at first, yet after a couple days I was use to the mode. As a select-in option, you can have the car in Eco Pro Mode or not.

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.

Shop Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven

Disclaimer

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven is editorially independent. No payment is accepted for editorial coverage. Third-party advertising companies are used to serve ads when you visit this site. These companies may use information (not including your name, address, email address, or telephone number) about your visits to this and other websites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.

Amazon Associate Disclaimer

Jesse Bluma at Pointe Viven is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Jesse Bluma at PointeViven

Jesse Bluma at Point Viven liberates taste in cookery, culture, and community, provides gourmet goods made with organic ingredients, inspired by the culinary worlds of California, Central, and South America, and engages in a community of customers and readers with lifestyle content, reviews, and expertise. Use and redistribution of original content allowed only with explicit permission of site owner and author.